Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton’s poem "The Evil Eye" is an intricate exploration of superstition, fear, and the human impulse to seek protection from the unknown. Sexton’s characteristic use of dark humor and surreal imagery creates a vivid landscape where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur, inviting readers to examine the irrational beliefs that permeate human existence.

The poem opens with an ominous atmosphere, as the "evil eye" is depicted as something that "comes oozing / out of flowers at night." The choice of the word "oozing" evokes a sense of something malevolent and uncontrollable, a force that emerges from seemingly innocuous objects like flowers, rain, and furniture. Sexton implies that this force is ever-present, lurking in the everyday environment, ready to strike if not properly acknowledged. The suggestion that one must "point at them and say their names" to ward off the evil imbues ordinary objects with a mystical significance, turning the mundane into potential threats.

As the poem progresses, Sexton intensifies the sense of danger associated with the evil eye. The image of it "pressing in like a washcloth" while one sleeps is particularly unsettling, suggesting an invasive and suffocating presence that preys on vulnerability. This theme of vulnerability is a recurring motif throughout the poem, as Sexton explores various superstitions that serve as protective rituals against this unseen menace.

The poem's second stanza presents a series of superstitious beliefs that are both absurd and eerily logical in their own way. The fear of encountering a cross-eyed person and the urgent need to "plunge into the grass" to find a four-leaf clover reflects a deep-seated anxiety about the power of the evil eye and the desperate measures one must take to avoid its curse. The imagery here is tactile and vivid, with "chilly ants" and "green fingernails" evoking a visceral connection to the earth, as if nature itself holds the key to protection.

Sexton continues to weave together a tapestry of superstitions, each more bizarre than the last. The ritual of counting nails on a horseshoe "as you count your children / or your money" suggests a conflation of luck with material and familial security. The warning about a sand flea crawling into the ear and flying into the brain is grotesque and nightmarish, highlighting the extreme and often grotesque lengths to which people will go to protect themselves from perceived threats.

The poem also touches on the theme of transformation, particularly in the stanza about the hunchback in the elevator. Here, Sexton introduces the idea that touching the hunchback's hump will somehow influence the future of his unborn child, who "will be born from his back tomorrow." This surreal image challenges the reader to consider the absurdity of such beliefs, while also acknowledging the deep-seated human desire to influence and control fate. The act of biting the baby's nails to prevent it from becoming a thief adds another layer of superstition, blending the concepts of physical touch, ritual, and moral outcome.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the notion of religious superstition. Knocking on wood, a common practice meant to ward off bad luck, is here linked to the crucifixion of Jesus, suggesting that such acts of protection are deeply rooted in religious symbolism. Sexton’s portrayal of Jesus "breaking an egg in your toilet" as a form of sacrificial exchange—"giving up one life / for one life"—is both irreverent and profound, encapsulating the poem’s exploration of the absurdities and sacredness intertwined in human beliefs.

"The Evil Eye" is a rich and layered poem that delves into the irrational fears and rituals that shape human behavior. Sexton’s use of surreal and often grotesque imagery serves to highlight the absurdity of these superstitions, while also acknowledging their deep psychological hold on the human mind. The poem invites readers to reflect on the power of belief, the ways in which we seek to protect ourselves from the unknown, and the thin line between the rational and the irrational in our daily lives. Through its exploration of superstition, the poem ultimately reveals much about the human condition—our vulnerabilities, our fears, and our need for control in an unpredictable world.

Copyright (c) 2024 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...